
South Sudan: Hon. Okello Odongtoo Lawiri MP – Press Release (11.07.2023)



““The SPLM leadership and the SPLA military command joint meeting … unanimously affirmed General Salva Kiir Mayardit as the chairman of the SPLM and commander in chief of the SPLA,” SPLM’s senior official Pagan Amun told reporters” (Sudan’s SPLM names Salva Kiir as Garang’s successor, 01.08.2005).
Since August 2005, the man in-charge and the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) has been Salva Kiir Mayardit. That has persisted to this day. He has also become the Head of State and the President of the independent nation, South Sudan since July 9th, 2011.
This week President Kiir announced the first election(s) in South Sudan. This is 12 years since the independence in 2011. 2023 is a long time from 2011. There has been so many moons and change of the tides since then.
That’s why this reporting is key: “Thousands of people from the states of Bahr el Ghazal and Abyei Administrative Area are gathering in Wau to celebrate the sole nomination of President Salva Kiir as SPLM flag bearer in the 2024 general elections, says presidency” (Radio One 87.9 FM, 04.07.2023).
We know that President Kiir does this for a reason. He needs the support and be the core candidate in an up-coming elections. Though the constitution isn’t prepared. Neither has there been a consensus or any sort of thing. Meaning, any authority or electoral commission lacks electoral reforms or laws to bind it. While the Presidency haven’t prepared the state or the government to actually run a legit election. The basics are not in place and haven’t been a priority.
President Kiir knows that he cannot be “transitional” forever. Neither will foreign donors or the international community accept it either. Just like his ally in Kampala. He has already pushed over a decade without an election and now must resolve it. Even if the election is shoddy, questionable and “contested” because the state didn’t prepare or ensure a transparent election.
The SPLM and the other stakeholders should all question the stress and the need. It must be done because Kiir and his allies are worried about lacking legitimacy. The R-ARCSS has been postponed and the transitional period has been prolonged. There has been several of deadlines, but they have been pushed again and again…
This election is only happening because you cannot come with more excuses to finish the R-ARCSS. Kiir needs to be legit and be “elected”. That’s just to ensure his Presidency for Life. He wants to copy Museveni and was able to push close to 13 years without an election. Kiir pushed over a decade without elections and now he suddenly has to do it. While the state isn’t prepared, and neither is anyone else. It will be a front and hard to believe if the results are the will of the people. That’s because of the weird feeling of rush…
It seems rushed and that’s mind boggling, thinking the state has over a decade to prepare and ensure legislation, institutions, and whatnot to be ready. However, that hasn’t happened and done so for a reason. Kiir and his allies has prospered on it. We have all seen it and that’s why he does it now. Because he thinks his a few steps ahead of his competition and therefore, can win easily. While it will not cement his legacy but make his prolonged stay in office more questionable.
President Kiir has been the leader of SPLM since 2005 and the head of state since 2011. Now he wants to be elected. When he is used to be selected. That’s a earth shattering idea, but this election will be more of a formality. Than the will of the people. Especially, when there are so many missing pieces in the run-up to the elections. The R-ARCSS and R-TGoNU aren’t ready or have made things in order. That’s why Kiir cannot sell this election without having a lot of doubts and wonder if they will make things right. Peace.











